10 Little Indians - SCRIPT - Part #5

ARMSTRONG
Ten little Indian boys going out to dine; one went and choked himself and then there were nine. Nine little Indian boys sat up very late; one overslept himself and then there were eight.

The two men looked at each other.
LOMBARD
Fits to damned well to be a coincidence! Who do you think it is? This Mr. Owen! U.N Owen...One Unknown Lunatic at Large! You think it is Rogers?

ARMSTRONG
No, the man's scared out of his senses.

Lombard flicks his cigarette off the cliff toward the water.
LOMBARD
This island's more or less a bare rock. We shall search it. Rope in Blore to help us.

Both men look back out to the sea.
FADE TO:
INT. DINING ROOM – AFTERNOON
PAN UP FROM INDIAN GIFURES

Blore touches the broken stem/leg portion of the Indian figures.

BLORE (Intrigued)
What you've said about those china figures, sir, makes all the difference. That's crazy, that is! There's only one thing. You don't think this Owen's idea might be to do the job by proxy, as it were?

ARMSTRONG (Shaking his head)
The cyanide.

BLORE (Agreeing)
But, how did it get into the drink?

Lombard circles the table constantly looking at the Indian figures.
LOMBARD
I've been thinking about that. Marston had several drinks that night. Between the time he had his last one and the time he finished the one before it, there was quite a gap. During that time his glass was lying about on some table or other. Somebody could have slipped a dose of the cyanide into the glass.

BLORE (Unbelievably)
Without our all seeing him, sir?

LOMBARD (Dryly)
I think we can agree we were all concerned elsewhere.

BLORE (Shrugging)
Fact is it must have been done! Any chance anyone has a revolver?
Lombard pats his pocket.

BLORE
Oh! You always carryon one?

LOMBARD
I have been in some tight places.

BLORE
None so tighter than this.

ARMSTRONG
Now, how about that tour of the Island gentlemen?

CUT TO:
EXT. NORTHWEST SIDE – AFTERNOON

Blore, Armstrong, and Lombard started on their tour of the island. It proved simple. On the northwest side, towards the coast, the cliffs fell sheer to the sea below, their surface unbroken. Blore looking down the side becoming uneasy.

BLORE
Whole Island like this?

LOMBAR
Possibly, very little trees…hence very little cover. We need to work methodically beating up and down from the highest…

Lombard points down toward water’s edge.
LOMBARD (Cont.)
…to the lowest point down there…the water’s edge…shall we?

CUT TO:
EXT. ROCKS SKIRTING THE WATERS EDGE – AFTERNOON

They came at last, skirting the water's edge, to where General Macarthur sat looking at the sea. The spot is very peaceful with the lap of the waves breaking over the rocks. Macarthur does not notice the men approaching him. Lombard looks left to right approaching Macarthur.

LOMBARD
No caves, I thought there would be a cave.

BLORE (To Macarthur)
Nice peaceful spot you've found for yourself, sir.

MACARTHUR (Frowning)
There is so little time…so little time, I really must insist no one disturbs me.
BLORE
Just touring the island, we will not disturb you.

Blore nudges Armstrong and points index finger at his ear twirling it clockwise. Macarthur does not see this.

MACARTHUR
You don't understand. Please go away.

Blore turns back around and motions to Armstrong and Lombard. The three men walked away confused and left Macarthur alone.

CUT TO:
EXT. HIGHEST POINT OF ISLAND – AFTERNOON

The three men stood on the highest point of the island looking toward the mainland. There were no boats out. The wind picked up.

LOMBARD
No fishing boats out. There's a storm coming. Damn nuisance you can't see the village from here. We could signal or something.

BLORE
We could have a bonfire tonight.

Lombard looked up at the sky. The clouds were beginning to mass themselves together. The wind increased.

LOMBARD
I don't think a bonfire will work. What are you thinking Armstrong?
ARMSTRONG
I was wondering how mad old Macarthur was...
CUT TO:
EXT. TERRACE – AFTERNOON

Vera stepped onto the terrace to see Miss Brent taken a chair just around the corner out of the wind knitting. Mr. Wargrave sat huddled in a porter's chair. His head poked down well into his neck. Vera continued her stroll toward the sea.

CUT TO:
EXT. ROCKS SKIRTING THE WATERS EDGE – AFTERNOON

Macarthur noticed her in apprehension and question. He stared at her intently.

MACARTHUR (As if he knew)
Oh! It's you! You’ve come . . .

Vera sat beside him.
VERA
Do you like sitting here looking at the sea?

MACARTHUR
Yes, it's pleasant. It's a good place, I think, to wait.

VERA
To wait? (Sharply) What were you waiting for?

MACARTHUR (Gently)
The end. But I think you know that, don't you? It's true, isn't it? We're all waiting for the end.
VERA (Unsteadily)
What do you mean?

MACARTHUR
None of us are going to leave the island. That's the plan. You know this? What you don't is the relief!
Vera looks wonderingly.
MACARTHUR
Yes. Of course, you're very young...you haven't got to that yet. But it does come! The blessed relief when you know that you've done with it all - that you haven't got to carry the burden any longer. You'll feel it someday.
Vera becomes uneasy and suddenly afraid.

MACARTHUR
You see, I loved Leslie. Very much.

VERA
Was Leslie your wife?

Macarthur agreed in silence.
MACARTHUR
Yes, I loved Leslie. That's why I did it.

VERA
You mean…

Macarthur nodded his head gently. Vera upset at MacArthur’s admission of guilt stood up and walked away. Macarthur said nothing else. The waves licked the rocks harder with the increased wind. Macarthur looked out into the sea unaware of someone else approaching behind him then at a moment heard the shuffle of feet behind him.

MACARTHUR
Leslie......?
CUT TO:
INT. LANDING – AFTERNOON

After exiting the first bedroom the three men, Blore, Lombard and Armstrong looked tired from their search of the Island and house. Standing on the landing they look puzzled.
LOMBARD
Ok, gentleman the island is clean, outbuildings empty. What else is there?
BLORE (Pointing)
There's a little stairwell there.

ARMSTRONG
Leads to servant’s quarters?

At that moment they hear steps coming from the servants’ quarters above. The three look at one another and quietly walk up to the room where the mysterious steps are coming from.
CUT TO:
INT. ROGERS BEDROOM – AFTERNOON

Inside the Rogers room someone is moving about. The three men barge through the bedroom door startling Mr. Rogers. Mr. Rogers drops some of the items he was carrying.
ROGERS
UN…uh... I am sorry I am just gathering some things. I would like to use one of the vacated small rooms on the floor below?

ARMSTRONG (Uneasy)
Of course. Of course. Get on with it.

They all avoided the sheeted figure on the bed. Rogers gathered the remainder of the items and exits.
ROGERS
Thank you sir lunch will be ready.

After the three regained composure. Lombard upset turns around looking at himself in the mirror.
LOMBARD (Slowly)
So, we've been wrong. Wrong all along! We built a nightmare of superstition and fantasy all because of the coincidence of two deaths and two missing China figures. For we are in a trap, and the devil is Mr. Owen

THE GONG SOUNDED FOR LUNCH
FADE TO:
INT. DINING ROOM - AFTERNOON

As Blore, Lombard and Armstrong enter the dining room Rogers stood by the door.
ROGERS
I hope lunch will be satisfactory. There is cold ham and cold tongue, and I've boiled some potatoes. And there is cheese and biscuits and some tinned fruits.

LOMBARD
Sounds all right. Stores are holding out, then?


ROGERS
There is plenty of food sir. The larder is very well stocked. Worries me Fred Narracott hasn't been over today.

LOMBARD
Yes. Peculiarly unfortunate describes it very well.

Miss Brent and Wargrave came into the room. Vera hurried in behind them.

VERA (Quickly)
I hope you didn't wait for me. Am I late?

MISS BRENT
You're not the last. The General isn't here yet.

ROGERS (Addressing Miss Brent)
Will you begin, madam, or will you wait?

VERA
General Macarthur is sitting right down by the sea. I don't expect he would hear the gong there anyway, he's a little vague today, I think.

ROGERS
I will go inform him lunch is ready.

ARMSTRONG (Interrupting)
I'll go. You others start lunch. There is a storm coming.
Armstrong leaves the rest to lunch.

FADE TO:
INT. DINING ROOM – AFTERNOON

As everyone sits around the table Rogers clears plates he cannot help but look up at the missing china figures often. Something catches his ear, a sound; he stops clearing and turns around.

DOLLY FROM DINING ROOM THROUGH DRAWING ROOM OUT TO TERRACE EXIT DOORS
Rogers stands straight up holding plates inching closer toward where the sound comes from.
ROGERS (Scared)
There's somebody running.

Now they all could hear it as they turn toward the terrace exit doors. Armstrong appeared, his breath coming fast.

ARMSTRONG
General Macarthur…

VERA (Explosive)
Dead!?
ARMSTRONG
Yes, he's dead.
Nobody else said anything
FADE TO:
INT. GENERAL MACARTHURS BEDROOM – AFTERNOON

General Macarthur had been laid on his bed we can hear lighting crashing and rain hitting the bedroom window.

CUT TO:
INT. DRAWING ROOM – AFTERNOON

Armstrong entered the room to find the rest of the others assembled. Miss Brent knitting, while Vera stood looking out the window at the hissing rain. Lightning crashed again. Blore sat squarely in a chair, his hands on his knees. Lombard walking restlessly up and down, at the far end of the room. Wargrave sat in the grandfather chair. His eyes half-closed. They opened when he saw Armstrong enter.

WARGRAVE (Penetrating voice)
Well, doctor?

ARMSTRONG
Macarthur was hit with a life preserver or some such thing on the back of the head.
A murmur went round the room, but the clear voice of the judge was raised once more.
WARGRAVE
Did you find the weapon used?

ARMSTRONG
No.
WARGRAVE
Nevertheless you are quite sure of your facts?

ARMSTRONG
I am quite sure.

WARGRAVE
We know now exactly where we are. While sitting on the terrace this morning I observed all activities. There could be little doubt to your purpose. You were searching for a murdered?

LOMBARD
Quite right, sir.

BLORE (Hoarsely)
He's a madman! A Loony!

WARGRAVE (Coughing)
That is almost certainly. But it hardly affects the issue. Our main preoccupation is this…save our lives.

ARMSTRONG (Trembling voice)
There's no one on the island, I tell you. NO ONE!
Wargrave strokes his jaw.
WARGRAVE
In the sense you mean, no. I came to that early this morning. Mr. Owen or whoever…is very much on the island. Mr. Owen is one of us....

CUT TO:
EXT. INDIAN ISLAND – AFTERNOON

Even though it is late afternoon the sky is dark and the rain comes down hard. The lightning crashes and highlights the profile of the Indian. The island loos frightening from the sea with the rocks sharp jagged edges and somewhat barren trees that freckle small areas around the home.
CUT TO:
INT. DRAWING ROOM – AFTERNOON

Lighting crashes again and Vera bursts out. Wargrave keeps a keen eye on her Vera since she came back from visiting Macarthur.

VERA
Oh, no, no, no...

WARGRAVE (to Vera)
My dear young lady, this is not time for refusing to look at the facts. We are all in grave danger. One of us is U.N. Owen. Of the ten people who came to this island three are definitely cleared. There are seven of us left. Of those seven, one is, if I may so express myself, a bogus little Indian boy.
Wargrave paused looking around the room.

WARGRAVE (Cont.)
Do I take it that you all agree?

ARMSTRONG
It's fantastic, but I suppose you're right.

BLORE
Not a doubt of it. And if you ask me, I've a very good idea…
Wargrave stopped Blore with a hand gesture.

MISS BRENT
Your argument seems logical. I agree that one of us is possessed by a devil.
VERA
I can't believe it. I can't…

WARGRAVE (Interrupting Vera)
Lombard?
LOMBARD
I agree, sir, absolutely.

Wargrave nodded his head in a satisfied manner.
WARGRAVE
Let's examine the evidence.

Wargrave looks at Blore.

WARGRAVE (Cont.)
Did you have something to say Mr. Blore?

BLORE (Breathing hard)
Lombard's got a revolver. He did not tell the truth last night. He admits it.
LOMBARD
It is true, I did tell Armstrong and Blore the truth earlier, but there is nothing to corroborate it.

WARGRAVE
We are in the same position I feel.

LOMBARD
We should leave the women out of this!

Vera and Miss Brent look at Lombard.

WARGRAVE (Acid tone)
I take it Dr. Armstrong, that a woman would have been physically capable of striking a blow that killed poor Macarthur?

ARMSTRONG
Perfectly capable - given the suitable instrument.
Wargrave wriggled his tortoise like neck at Vera. She begins crying.

VERA (To Wargrave)
I think you’re mad!

WARGRAVE
Dear girl, I am not accusing you, and do try and restrain your feelings.
Wargrave looks at Miss Brent who is continues to knit and makes no eye contact.

WARGRAVE (Cont.)
I hope, Miss Brent, that you are not offended by my insistence that 'all' of us are equally under suspicion?

MISS BRENT (Cold)
The idea I should be accused of taking a fellow creature's life - not to speak of the lives of 'three' fellow creatures - is, of course, quite absurd to anyone who knows anything about my character. But, there is a devil amongst us.

LOMBARD
What about Rogers?

WARGRAVE
What about him?

LOMBARD
Well, to my mind, Rogers seems pretty well ruled out.

WARGRAVE
Indeed, and on what grounds?

LOMBARD
He does not have the brains and his wife is a victim.

WARGRAVE
In my time, several people have come before me accused of the murders of their wives, and have been found guilty.
LOMBARD
I can see him killing his wife for breaking down, but not in this U.N. Owen fashion...lunacy.
WARGRAVE
You are assuming hearsay as evidence.

LOMBARD
Well, have it your own way. U.N. Owen is one of us. No exceptions allowed. We all qualify.
WARGRAVE
My point is that there can be no exceptions allowed on the score of character, position, or probability. What we must now examine is the possibility of eliminating one or more persons on the facts.

BLORE (Face lit up)
Now you're talking, sir!

WARGRAVE
As regards to Marston, someone slipped something into the dregs of his glass before he re-filled it the last time. Anyone of us could have done that. (LONG PAUSE) Now Mrs. Rogers. The people who stand out are her husband and the doctor, both could have done it as easy as winking.
Armstrong sprung to his feet trembling.

ARMSTRONG
I protest. I swear that the dose I gave the woman was perfectly…
WARGRAVE (Interrupting in his sour voice)
Dr. Armstrong. Your indignation is very natural. Nevertheless, you must admit that the facts have got to be faced. You and Mr. Rogers had the greatest ease to do this, but can the rest of us be entirely eliminated? I think not.

VERA (Angrily)
I was nowhere near that woman.

WARGRAVE
As my memory serves me the facts were these, Mrs. Rogers was lifted to the sofa by Marston, Lombard and the doctor went to her, Mr. Rogers was sent for brandy. We then found out the room that 'voice' came from. Miss Brent remained alone with Mrs. Rogers.
Miss Brent stops knitting and her cheeks become flush.

MISS BRENT
This is outrageous! Is common humanity a criminal offense?

WARGRAVE
I am only establishing facts. Rogers returned with the brandy, which he could have doctored before entering the room. The brandy was administered to the woman and shortly afterwards her husband and Dr. Armstrong assisted her up to bed where Dr. Armstrong gave her a sedative.

BLORE
That’s it! That lets off the Judge, Lombard, myself and Miss Claythorne!
Wargrave gives Blore the cold one eye.

WARGRAVE
Ah, but does it? We must take into account every possible eventuality.
BLORE
I don't get you.

WARGRAVE
What about the death of Macarthur? That took place earlier. I will ask anyone who considers that he or she has an alibi to state it in so many words. I myself will state at once that I have no valid alibi. I spent the morning sitting on the terrace and mediating on the singular position in which we all find ourselves. I sat on the terrace the whole morning until the gong, but there were, several times I was unobserved where I could have walked away and killed the General. There is only my word. There must be proof.

BLORE
I was with Lombard and Armstrong. They'll bear me out.

ARMSTRONG
You did go to the house for rope.

BLORE
Of course I did. Went straight there and straight back. You know I did.
ARMSTRONG
You were a long time.

Blore turned crimson.
WARGRAVE
During Blore's absence, were you two gentlemen together?

ARMSTRONG (Hotly)
Certainly, that it, Lombard went off for a few minutes. I remained where I was.
LOMBARD
I was only absent a moment or two.

ARMSTRONG
That is right. Not long enough to do a murder. I assure you.

WARGRAVE
Did either of you look at your watches?

ARMSTRONG
Well no.

LOMBARD
I am not wearing one.

WARGRAVE
A minute or two is a vague expression. Miss Brent?
MISS BRENT
I took a walk with Miss Claythorne and then sat on the terrace knitting in the sun around the corner from you.

WARGRAVE
Until lunch?

MISS BRENT
Yes.
WARGRAVE
Miss Claythorne?

VERA
I was with Miss Brent until this morning. I then wandered a bit. I talked to General Macarthur...
WARGRAVE (Interrupting)
What time was that?

VERA (Vague)
I don't know. About an hour before lunch, I think -- or it might have been less.
BLORE
Was it after we spoke to him?

VERA (Shivering)
I don’t know. He was very queer.

WARGRAVE
How was he queer?

VERA (Low voice)
He said we were all going to die. He frightened me.

WARGRAVE
What did you do next?